Verbena plant named ‘VVIPE13-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Verbena  cultivar named ‘VVIPE13-0’ is disclosed, characterized by a compact, trailing plant habit, flexible stems and distinctive peach colored flowers. The new variety is a  Verbena , typically produced as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Verbena peruviana.

Variety denomination: ‘VVIPE13-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated from a cross pollination of the seed parent, anunnamed, unpatented proprietary selection of Verbena hybrid with thepollen parent a different unnamed, unpatented Verbena hybrid. Thecrossing was made during the Summer of 2009, at a research greenhouse inMunster, Germany. ‘VVIPE13-0’ was discovered by the inventor, HubertusVolmary, a citizen of Germany, at the same research greenhouse duringthe Spring of 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘VVIPE13-0’ was first performedin Munster Germany, at a commercial greenhouse by vegetative cuttings inSummer of 2010. ‘VVIPE13-0’ has since produced several generations andhas shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘VVIPE13-0’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘VVIPE13-0’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘VVIPE13-0’ as a new and distinct Verbenacultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, trailing plant habit.    -   2. Highly floriferous plants    -   3. Flexible, non-brittle stems.    -   4. Distinctive peach colored flowers.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VVIPE13-0’ are similar to the female parentin most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘VVIPE13-0’ differs inproducing a compact, trailing plant, whereas the seed parent has amounding plant habit. Additionally, the seed parent flowers three weekslater than the new variety.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VVIPE13-0’ are similar to the male parent inmost horticultural characteristics. However, ‘VVIPE13-0’ differs inhaving a trailing, compact plant habit, whereas the pollen has adistinctively upright plant habit.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘VVIPE13-0’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Verbenahybrid ‘Lan Peachy’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,536. Plants of ‘Lan Peachy’are similar to plants of ‘VVIPE13-0’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of ‘VVIPE13-0’ are more less decumbentin habit and produce a darker peach colored flower, with more resistanceto fading.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘VVIPE13-0’ grown outdoors in Oxnard, Calif. This plantis approximately 2 months old, shown in a 6 inch pot. The photograph wastaken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Colour Chart, 2001, except where general terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used. The following observations andmeasurements describe ‘VVIPE13-0’ plants in a commercial greenhouse inOxnard, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 29° C. night and day.No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatmentswere given to the plants. Natural light conditions were approximately2500 to 4000 fc of light. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena peruviana ‘VVIPE13-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Propagation method: Vegetative Cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots: About 5 to 7 days at 20.degree. C. to    25.degree. C.-   Root description: Fine, densely fibrous.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 months from a rooted    cutting.-   Pot size of plant described: 6 inch pot.-   Height: Approximately 5 cm from soil line of pot to top of foliar    plane. Approximately 9 cm from soil line of pot to top of uppermost    flowers.-   Plant spread: Approximately 24 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Growth habit: Spreading.-   Branching characteristics: Free branching.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Average 7 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.3 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Approximately 30.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.        -   Texture.—Hirsute. Hairs less than 1 mm, colored near RHS            Yellow-Green 144D. Stems also moderately ridged.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.-   Internode length: Average 2.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 8 to 10 fully expanded leaves per            primary lateral branch with approximately 8 less developed            leaves.        -   Average length.—3.5 cm.        -   Average width.—1.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Narrow deltoid.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Oblique.        -   Margin.—Deeply crenate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Hirsute.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Hirsute.        -   Aspect.—Slightly cupped upward, mildly undulate.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.            Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 143A. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Mature            foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Venation.—Type: Palmate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144C. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144D.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Petiole.—Length: Average 0.6 cm. Diameter: Average 0.15 cm.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Upper surface: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144C. Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green            144D.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring and Summer.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Flat top umbel.-   Individual flower form: Salverform.-   Individual flowers per umbel: Average 8 fully opened flowers with 6    buds.-   Umbels per plant: More than 20 umbels with open flowers, on a mature    plant.-   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 1 week for individual    flowers, approximately 3 weeks for entire umbel.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—1.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C at base, apex near Red            52A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Depth.—Average 3.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average 6.1 cm.-   Corolla:    -   -   Petals (measured from separation at top of tube).—Number: 5.            Length: Approximately 0.9 cm. Width: Approximately 0.9 cm.            Tube Opening Diameter: Approximately 0.2 cm. Tube/throat            Length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Flower Diameter: Average            2.1 cm. Flower Depth: Average 2.5 cm. Shape: Overall            deltoid. Bi-lobed at apex. Average lobe depth 0.1 cm.            Aspect: Flat. Margin: Entire. Texture: Velvety. Apex: 2            obtuse lobes. Color: When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS            Red 40D. Lower surface: Near RHS Orange-Red 33D. Fully            opened: Upper surface: Near RHS Orange-Red 33D, minute flush            on margin of Red 44D. Lower surface: Near RHS Red 38C.            Fading: Upper surface: Near RHS Red 38C. Lower surface: Near            RHS Red 38C.        -   Throat.—Outer Surface Color: Near RHS White N155D. Texture:            Smooth. Interior Tube color: Near RHS White N155D.-   Calyx:    -   -   Form.—Funnelform. Sepals fused into a single structure,            individual sepals indistinguishable.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Sepal quantity.—5 fully fused.        -   Sepal texture.—Puberulent.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Color.—Inner and outer surfaces: Near RHS Green 143A at            apex, base Yellow-Green 144D.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Average 4.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.        -   Texture.—Hirsute. Hairs less than 1 mm.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Average 0.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number (per flower).—4.        -   Filament length.—Not measurable, fused to corolla tube.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Globular. Length: Approximately 0.1 cm.            Color: Near RHS Yellow 1B.        -   Pollen.—Amount: Not present.-   Pistils:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.6 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Color: Near RHS            Green-White 157D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near Yellow-Green 144C.        -   Ovary.—Length: Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near            Yellow-Green 144A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Verbena has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately    approximately −1° C. to 32° C.-   Drought tolerance: No tolerance for drought.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plantnamed ‘VVIPE13-0’ as herein illustrated and described.